“Paul’s Thankfulness” (Part One)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-4

This Thanksgiving week, I would like us to walk together through the opening of the little book of 1 Thessalonians. In many ways, this was the ideal church of the NT era, yet it is often overlooked.

Background: This is actually believed to be the first letter that Paul wrote (52-53 AD) and was written from Corinth shortly after Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica. What do we know about this place?

1) Place: The ancient city of Thessalonica (pictured above) was originally named Therma, but the name was changed to Thessalonica after Alexander the Great’s half-sister. Today it is known as “Salonika.” It was located about 100 miles west of Philippi and 50 miles north of Athens and was known for four things:

• Population of about 200,000 (very large for the ancient world)
• Strong military garrison
• Center of commerce for the region
• High level of immorality

Some of these things will clearly influence Paul as he writes to this church family.

2) Recipients: The church at Thessalonica, which Paul had founded in Acts 17:1-10. If you will remember from Acts 16, Paul had wanted to go to Asia but could find no peace. In the midst of his personal struggle, the Holy Spirit silenced him and drove him west to the coast of Turkey. There, at Troas, he received the “Macedonian Vision” (Acts 16:9), crossed over into Europe and came to Philippi. From Philippi he and his team made their way to Thessalonica. What happened there?

• He came to the synagogue to preach to the large Jewish population there.
• He expounded the OT scriptures for a period of three weeks (“reason” = discourse in a Q&A; “opening” = expounding) on the need for messianic suffering, the need for a messianic resurrection, and the messiah fulfilled in Jesus
• Some believed and followed Paul and Silas (proselytes and women)
• The Jews rejected, and, due to envy of Paul’s success, hired a hit squad to start a riot and run them out of town. They then left for Berea.

It is interesting to note that Ephesus had three years of Paul’s personal ministry and Thessalonica had three weeks, but both were strong vibrant churches. It is a profound reminder that it really is about the message, not the messenger!

Now, the messenger comes to them again, but this time in the form of a letter of encouragement and of challenge. It is a letter of priorities and of values. It is a letter of character and of commitment. He starts with a greeting that really describes the portrait of a Christlike heart—focusing on who they are in Christ and what they are doing in spiritual service to the Savior.

Tomorrow we’ll see Paul’s greeting to his friends…